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Origin of The Name : The origin of the family name of Reddacliff is *Old English* it is neither Norman nor Saxon but Celtic . It is not possible to trace the period the first ancestors of the bearers of the name may have been in Britain . The first record of the name (according to P . H . Heaney's Dictonary of British Names) was in the year 1182 . This being noted to the person of "Walter de Raddecliua" in the County of Devonshire , and the spelling of the name Reddacliff has developed from this source . Other spellings derived from this source are , Radcliff , Radcliffe , Redclift , Reddicliffe & Rackliff . All these spellings are not direcly linked to Devonshire & may in fact may not have even been in Britain .
The name was of considerable note of the field of Military Enterprise in the "Border Country " during the fourteenth century.
In Heraldry ,
The Colour White , : When borne as a "field colour" is significant of Peace & Sincerity . It is pointed out by Guillim , considered the most authoritive of the ancient heraldic writers , That the term "Peace" is not intended to portray one prepared to accept peace at any price , But denotes a "Bearer of arms " ready to devote all his efforts to bring about a just and equitable peace , a peace which would endure because it would be such a peace .
The Colour Sable (black) , : Is symbolical of Constancy and sometimes but less frequently also denotes grief
The Colour Gold , : One of the two colours of Armory , Signifies Generosity and , according to Sir John Ferne , denotes "Elevation of the mind " . It is again pointed out by Guillim , that the term "Generosity " is not intended to portray one prone to mass distribution of his possessions wisely or not so ; but denotes a Bearer Of Arms considered by his Sovereign to be of magnanimity which would display both true fortitude in defeat and true Christian charity in victory .
The Bend Baltheus (diagonal version of the shield ): This bearing is representative of the sheiled "Scarfe" of a Knight , and is the insignia of rank of the Knight Commander . It is represented in modern times by the Military Sash .
The Crown ,: Was granted to those whose loyalty to the Crown & Princes had been proven in both Combat And Council .
The Bull's Head. Guillim Says "The Bearing of a Bull Or the Head thereof is a note of valour and magnamimity " . An Ox was borne by the Athenians on one of their coins , and it was also worshipped as a God by the Egyptians under the name of Apis, "the soul of Osirus " . A specially marked Bull was always kept as an object of worship .